"Ask the Devs" Round 1: Patch 1.0.7
Blizzard will soon hold an "Ask the Devs" event in which many interesting things about the upcoming patch will hopefully be answered. You can read more about how the Q&A will work below.

Welcome to the Diablo III Ask the Devs global Q&A. In this thread we'll be collecting your questions regarding patch 1.0.7, having the community vote for their favorites, and then posting the answers we receive from the developers approximately one week later.

[STATUS]

Coming soon! This Q&A will begin on Tuesday, January 29 at 10:00 a.m. PDT.

[TOPIC]

The topic for this month is Patch 1.0.7. Please feel free to ask any questions related to changes in included this patch (i.e. dueling, class updates, new crafting recipes, etc).

On the date and time specified in this post, we'll unlock the thread and you'll be able to submit your questions regarding patch 1.0.7.

When the thread hits its cap, no more questions will be allowed.

At that point, we'll ask you to use the thumbs-up button to vote for any questions you'd like to see answered.

After about 24 hours, we'll lock the thread, at which time you will no longer be able to vote.

We'll then look for the posts with the most votes in every region and pass them on to the Diablo III development team.

Approximately a week later, we'll provide you a list of answers delivered directly from the developers.

[RULES]

Only one question per post.

Stay on topic. Questions that don't relate to the chosen topic (even if highly-rated) won't be sent to the developers.

Discussion posts are not allowed! We ask that you only post questions in the Ask the Devs thread. If you would like to discuss related topics, please do so in another thread.

You can vote for questions at any time while the thread is unlocked.

A highly-rated post does not mean it will be answered, but we'll do our best to answer as many questions as possible.

"Dislike" votes don't count.

[TIPS]

Please don't post or vote for questions you know we won't answer. We're not going to use these Q&As to announce new features, expansions, or release dates. By the same token, we're also not going to answer questions that touch on subjects outside of the game and its design.

Keep your question concise. One to three sentences should be plenty to explain background and ask a question.

Vote for as many questions as you like.

All "Like" votes count. While you can't see the vote tally, we can. Even if a post is already highly rated, your vote still means something to that question (potentially) being answered.

1.0.7. I wonder if questions should only pertain to this patch.
They should, yes (I highly recommend reading the rules listed here)!

The reason we're asking players to focus their questions on a specific topic is that it helps the Q&A run much more smoothly. While it might mean we receive LESS questions, the questions that we do receive tend be of a higher caliber and have much more depth (which in turn allows us to provide responses that are more meaningful and meaty). Additionally, it makes the Q&A super cohesive since the questions all relate to one another in a very specific way.

So many questions we'd like to ask,but if it's only limited to specifics about what they've already announced for the patch,it won't answer many of the hundreds of suggestions/questions already unaddressed by the devs and CM's.
We choose 1.0.7 as the topic because it's very timely. Not only is the patch on the PTR right now, but we've also been seeing a lot of questions from players NOT participating in the public test about the content in 1.0.7 -- everything from why a certain change was made (and what the philosophy was behind it) to how a specific feature is intended to work to whether or not we've considered the long-term effects of a specific update.

We'll be having Q&As about a variety of different topics in the future (and, yup, itemization is one of them).

But seriously, look back at the Reddit AMAA. That wen't pretty well, a lot of the answers were fairly long too and very in-depth, at least from Wyatt, especially after getting hounded by one question asker.
Yup, and we'd like to do more of those kinds of Q&As in the future (i.e. more open-ended and held in real-time).

For this particular series, though, we want to have a topic not only for the reasons I listed above, but also because it works better with the format. We're going to be collecting the top questions from each of our regions, translating them into English, getting the developers to provide responses, translating those responses back into the other 10 languages we support, organizing everything in a readable layout, and then publishing the information globally at the same time -- all within a week. Open-ended Q&As tend to work better in real-time and when they're being conducted in only one language; the scope would just be too large for the Ask the Devs, especially if we're looking to provide responses quickly.

While I applaud Blizzard's attempts to re-connect with the community, I feel that this format is really only allowing a place to ask PR-friendly questions.
We're not asking for PR-friendly questions. In fact, we encourage critical inquiries that are detailed and provocative.

What we are asking for are questions that actually can be answered by our developers. They're not going to be able to share release dates or necessarily confirm upcoming projects, but they can provide insight into design choices, acknowledge awareness of certain issues and concerns, as well as discuss (in a more broad sense) their direction for the game.

Because of that, it's probably a good idea to avoid asking things like "WHY DOES DUELING SUCK?" or "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RELEASE LADDERS?" and instead opt for something more along the lines of "I'm not a big fan of the way dueling is being implemented in 1.0.7. Are there any plans for a reward system in the future? " or "I loved ladders in D2 and feel like they'd be great addition to D3. Are there any plans to provide a similar system in D3, potentially in the form of ladders?" (Though, admittedly, the latter question isn't great for the first round of questions since it's not really related to 1.0.7.)

STOP TELLING ME WHAT IS FUN
Explaining our design goals for certain features and stating that one of those goals happens to be "make it fun" -- or even saying something as bold as "we think this new system is pretty fun" -- is not same thing as defining what the word "fun" means to you.

We know that the definition of "fun" varies from player to player, and we're certainly not trying to suggest that our definition is better than anyone else's. What we are trying to do is create an enjoyable game. Different players have different play styles, though, so there may be times when we think something is fun that you do not. And while may not always see eye-to-eye on the fun/not fun level, more often than not we're willing to make changes and work with the community so that what we find fun is also what you find fun.

Not sure I will have time to get home and ask a question before it's locked because full. It looks like it's allowed to post more than one question so maybe it will fill up fast. Would have been great to limit to one question, forcing everyone to focus on their best and more serious question. But since it's done in a forum, home made, it's likely hard to do, monitoring all this.
That's certainly something for us to consider, though as you said it would be difficult to really monitor. I'll take this back to my team and we can debate it, as civilized individuals do (i.e. there might be white boards and post-its involved :P).

Monster Density Being Looked At
Blizzard have already stated that they realize there is a density issue between the different Acts. Solutions are in the works.

I think there are multiple reasons behind the desire for scaling monster density for the players who are asking for it. The first one that comes to mind is not the self-serving need to squeak out insane farming efficiency (there are some who seem to definitely want this), but the desire to feel that they are not losing efficiency when farming anything other than Act III. We definitely want people to farm multiple Acts, so we are discussing options to achieve that goal.

Your ideas on the subject are certainly welcome (in fact, the question of "what mob density would you choose?" is a great one to debate) and we hope that you will continue post them.

ProzaicMuze: Witch Doctor Spirit Barrage Build
Forum member ProzaicMuze has created this very well working Spirit Barrage build for the Witch Doctor. He has recorded two videos to showcase it - one with lots of gameplay to show how well the build works on MP1 and MP3 and another in which he talks about the build in more detail. Check them out below and drop a line in his dedicated thread located here!

I really hope they do something about the monster density. I enjoy all of the acts and I don't like feeling restricted to a particular act if I want to get the most efficient xp gain or loot drop.

Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack

Bashiok - Blizzard Representative - 08/01/2011 -"So how many skill combinations are there now? Well taking into account 6 active skills, all the rune combinations, and 3 passives we currently expect each class to have roughly 2,285,814,795,264 different build combinations."

"Hey, I thought you'd like the witty irony of grub-on-glowie violence!"

Ok, lets be honest Blizzard, not matter what you do, Diablo 3 is already dead. Blizzard is trying to get this game alive, I feel like D3 is in an ER and Blizzard is the doctor trying to get the game back to life.
Path of Exile is the way to go, these guys did a really good job, the game is simply amazing.

They buffed some skills, brought in dueling (and ppl are "done" with it already it seems) and we get some minor bug fixes. What questions do we have to the devs? I can't think of anything tbh.

I think the best topic is crafting. Lots of stuff to ask about there, for example:

- What is the purpose of Demonic Essence when all the recipes still cost gold and a bunch of salvage?
- What will they do if using the AH is still far more cost effective than crafting?
- Will recipes be added for the other slots?
- Segueway: Is anything planned to improve natural loot drops for people who don't want to use the AH? Right now the AH is still the only way to get legendaries for yourself, and the odds of finding an upgrade as loot are pitifully small.

I think the best topic is crafting. Lots of stuff to ask about there, for example:

- What is the purpose of Demonic Essence when all the recipes still cost gold and a bunch of salvage?
- What will they do if using the AH is still far more cost effective than crafting?
- Will recipes be added for the other slots?
- Segueway: Is anything planned to improve natural loot drops for people who don't want to use the AH? Right now the AH is still the only way to get legendaries for yourself, and the odds of finding an upgrade as loot are pitifully small.

Good questions

And guess what will be the answer?? sad but true ...

I still play Diablo3, less time than ever, only 2 runs of full act a day and then become bored, bored of non rares usable, bored of taking a lot of time to find a nice legendary item but then roll random attributes useless and then the legendary become trash ... and I am very far from being godly, have a lot of diff on Mp2 and farm on Mp1 ... still like the game, PoE is better, but is kinda more the same and Diablo world still more to me, so I prefer to try othe kind of games when bored with D3, like DotA =\

it'll be interesting to look back one day and discover the exact point when gamers turned into entitled assholes. this game isn't fun according to my terms, therefore the developers must change it until it does. this isn't burger king, you don't get it your way right away. if you don't think a game is fun, go do something else dipshit. oh noes, they're shitting on the legacy of the game and my cherished memories of a prior sequel. yea, go fuck yourself. again, if you don't like it, try really hard to find meaning in your sad existence elsewhere. if enough people have left, they will see the errors of their ways, or go out of business. since they're not going out of business, they're doing something right and you're not.

it'll be interesting to look back one day and discover the exact point when gamers turned into entitled assholes. this game isn't fun according to my terms, therefore the developers must change it until it does. this isn't burger king, you don't get it your way right away. if you don't think a game is fun, go do something else dipshit. oh noes, they're shitting on the legacy of the game and my cherished memories of a prior sequel. yea, go fuck yourself. again, if you don't like it, try really hard to find meaning in your sad existence elsewhere. if enough people have left, they will see the errors of their ways, or go out of business. since they're not going out of business, they're doing something right and you're not.

This.

Diablo 3 is a different type of game. I don't understand why people want D3 to be exactly the same as D2, or Torchlight 2, or PoE, or whatever.

The irony is that while these other games are great, people aren't anywhere near as harsh on them as they are on D3. PoE is a good game, but its not the amazing life changing experience that people make it out to be. Its a different game than Diablo. If you love it that is great for you, just go play it. But don't hijack Diablo 3 and try to force the devs to turn it into you want when you will probably never really even play it again because you have a chip on your shoulder against blizz in the first place and nothing they do will please you.

This is just how people are today, when something is different than what they like they demand it be made to suit their needs instead of just saying, "this isn't for me", and trying something else. You see it with smartphones, game consoles, etc. Entitled assholes is exactly right.

. . . if you don't think a game is fun, go do something else dipshit. oh noes, they're shitting on the legacy of the game and my cherished memories of a prior sequel. yea, go fuck yourself. again, if you don't like it, try really hard to find meaning in your sad existence elsewhere. . .

. . . This is just how people are today, when something is different than what they like they demand it be made to suit their needs instead of just saying, "this isn't for me", and trying something else. You see it with smartphones, game consoles, etc. Entitled assholes is exactly right.

Because clearly being equally, if not more, disrespectful and immature is the appropriate response? People have been and continue to bring up legitimate concerns in an objectively respectful fashion. The two of you did little more than reveal to me that you're douchebags. Plain and simple.

I can understand how certain situations don't warranted the "entitled" mentality, but when it comes to Diablo 3, this game was sold on a premise that didn't match what was delivered. It's people like you that protect and perpetuate this kind of bait and switch. I'm not satisfied with Diablo 3, I'm disappointed in the released product and I feel cheated of what I saw in the earliest portions of the closed beta (which I was in). To me, this game was never finished and is STILL being "fixed" rather than "improved."

Does that make me entitled? No! In fact, I still play the game, obviously I even make videos of me playing the game (those are my videos) and I make do with what I have. You can't call people entitled for seeing a problem and voicing their concerns. That's childish no better than the behavior you're accusing people of.

Making sweeping generalizations is petty and ignorant. It's not appropriate with race, religion, politics, sports, books, stamp collections or anything else you can think of. Why is it suddenly okay now?

what makes you think a response needs to be respectful? what amongst the multitude of whining and pedantic criticism would even warrant a respectful response? none whatsoever. you're not entitled to respect. just as the myriad of gamers are not entitled to mold a game until it suits their needs. so this game was sold on one premise and people felt it didn't deliver. ok, so what? you're disappointed and feel cheated. i'm still looking for a give-a-fuck. the echo chamber has made you think everybody agrees with your criticism. the fact that you're blind to your entitlement is the reason you (well, let's just say the multitude of online comments) are being called entitled to begin with. and i'll be completely honest, blizzard seems to have misplaced their collective balls and are acquiescing to the whiners. but that's on them, so whatever. let me clue you in to what those who aren't voicing their criticism online are doing...they're either playing the game or doing something else.

Your lack of reading comprehension shown in your reply is astounding. Not to mention you and I have very different mindsets. I believe that everyone deserves respect until their actions warrant otherwise and even then, it is still better to be respectful. Behaving otherwise erodes any foundation you build for your argument as it is doing now. I read your post and see more bitterness than I do in the stereotypical "entitlement" post. You're trying to blame anyone who criticizes a game for "all the things" in the gaming world. How reasonable. . .

Also, I'm not blind to anything. Do you see me making demands? Am I lashing out at Blizzard due to my disappointment? Certainly not! You're basic if A then B logic isn't going to support you here. My point is simply that you're acting no better than those you're complaining about, because that's exactly what you're doing: complaining.

And I love how cliche your closing statement is. I am both criticizing the game AND playing it. Not to mention I even do other things (Like PoE, TL2 and BL2) on the side. IMPOSSIBRU! I must be a Wizard. . .

It's like you've decided that the idea of objective criticism is a lie.